Park Program

Park Program Mission: To develop effective leadership styles and job skills through active stewardship and service to Vermont's State Parks and the communities that surround them.

While on a Park Crew, you will have the opportunity to connect with the natural world, while living, working, and recreating in a Vermont State Park. You and your crew will be the driving force behind managing all aspects of one of Vermont’s 52 State Parks.

Past Vermont State Parks managed by the VYCC include Elmore, Quechee, North Hero, Branbury and Emerald Lake.

Park Crew Experience

Park Crews are residential and are co-ed with crews consisting of up to 8 Corps Members. These crews are lead by experienced Crew Leaders and Assistant Crew Leaders. Crew Members come together from all walks of life to build strong bonds with each other and with their surrounding environment. Throughout the summer, your crew will become a tight knit team to work together to ensure the operation and management of a Vermont State Park.

Each work day holds many opportunities for responsibility, leadership and new experiences. You will be able to explore your opinions during WoRD as well as have the ability to learn and teach things about the natural world through crew-led visitor programming. Corps Members will also have the chance to develop their leadership and professional skills among their peers, by participating in various leadership opportunities while on the crew.

Park Life

This crew model provides the unique opportunity for the crew to explore living and working in a completely new and exciting environment. Television will be traded in for starry nights by the campfire or afternoons in a kayak as the crew lives and works together for the duration of the Park Season. Your new home will become a Vermont State Park and your new neighbors will be the visitors who come every day to visit the beautiful Park in which you live!

While previous customer service or outdoor job experience is a plus for Corps Members, it is more important that those joining a Park Crew bring an open mind, dedication, and the willingness to step out of their comfort zone. Many people leave this experience with increased job skill and a strong work ethic.

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Park Program Partners

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR); Parks Division: FPR is one of VYCC’s oldest partners providing opportunities for crews to run State Parks for over 14 years. Working with FPR allows for Park Program Staff to:

• Live and work in some of the most pristine locations in Vermont
• Gain free access and camping at all Vermont State Parks
• Master the daily operations of one of the nation’s leading State Park Programs
• Learn how to effectively advocate for environmental protection

The United State Forest Service(USFS): The USFS is another long-time partner, creating opportunities for VYCC crews to complete a variety of trail and recreation area projects in the Green Mountain National Forest. Working with the Forest Service allows VYCC staff to:

• Learn and develop technical skills
• Work within the Green Mountain National Forest
• Approach conservation on a Federal level

AmeriCorps: The VYCC is proud to be a partner with the AmeriCorps Program. As an AmeriCorps Program, the VYCC is able to:

• Provide even more young people with excellent training, quality supervision, and intense leadership experiences
• To offer an Education Award at the successful completion of a Member's or Leader's term of service
• To be involved with a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in service and help meet critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, and health

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